Abducted Edo musician, Osayomore Joseph, regains freedom

Popular Edo musician, Mr. Osayomore Joseph, who was kidnapped by gunmen has been released.

It was gathered that Osayomore regained his freedom on Thursday after spending almost a month in captivity.

His manager, Mr. Frank Ugbomah, and State Chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Mr. Willy Eghe-Nova, confirmed his release to our correspondent on the telephone.

It could, however, not be ascertained if a ransom was paid.

The ace musician had on October 3 been abducted by armed men on Upper Ekehuan road in Egor Local Government Area of the state.

He was said to be returning from a musical performance along with his wife when he was taken away at Orovie village at about 10 pm.

His wife who sustained a gunshot wound to the head during the kidnap was moved to a hospital where she was said to be responding to treatment.

His captors had also demanded a ransom of N200m for his release.

The incident was said to have occurred after he performed at the one year coronation anniversary of the Oba of Benin at the palace.

Efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, for comments were unsuccessful.

Calls put across to Kokumo’s telephone number rang out while he had yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing the report.

But Osayomore’s first son, Joseph Jr, who expressed joy over the development, disclosed that his father had been taken to an undisclosed hospital as he was “not too healthy”.

“My father has been released but he is not too healthy. So, he is currently in the hospital taking treatment.

“It has not been easy for us as a family but we thank God he is back home. We are trying to give him the best medical care he deserves,” he stated.

He added, “So, he is in the hospital now and it is our prayers that everything goes well so he can rejoin his family in good health because we have really suffered all these while it has been very traumatic for us and not a good situation that you can even pray for your enemy. We thank God he is home alive.”